“I grew up with a deep sense of my own Jewish identity
and Jewish culture, and of how large of a role Israel played
within that, as the homeland for the Jewish people.”
Not only is
Jonathan a good
colleague who is
smart, creative,
principled, and a
natural leader, but
he is also a mensch,
with a true passion
for Israel and the
ZOA, making him
the perfect fit.
27
In essence, Jonathan grew up with Zionism
from day one; it was a part of him. “I grew up
with a deep sense of my own Jewish identity
and Jewish culture, and of how large of a role
Israel played within that, as the homeland for
the Jewish people.” He went on to explain
how his travel experiences to Israel allowed
him to reach a greater point of understanding.
These trips not only helped Jonathan solidify
his bond with the Jewish state, but they also
allowed him to grasp the complexities and
wonders of contemporary life in Israel and its
history. Most importantly, though, Jonathan
was able to experience the reality of life in
Israel, which proved to be greatly moving.
Given his deep connection to the State of
Israel and to the Jewish people, Jonathan was
at a loss for words when, during his time in
college – which was also the height of the
Second Intifada – he was overwhelmed with a
sense of apathy on campus. No one seemed to
understand the truth of what was happening
on the streets of Israel, which Jonathan was
made aware of by his friends and family who
were witnessing suicide bombings in public
places, rocket attacks, and other horrific acts
of violence, with their very own eyes.
Feeling somewhat disappointed in his
peers amidst a less than friendly environment
toward Israel, Jonathan found comradery
with one of his professors who happened to
serve in the Israel Defense Forces during the
1967 Six-Day War. This professor, who also
had a direct, real and intense understanding
of the realities in Israel, ended up serving as
a mentor for Jonathan, providing a guiding
voice when he needed it the most. As a
professor of Hebrew and Yiddish literature,
Jonathan also connected with this professor
in ways that influenced his own academic and
cultural growth.
Despite the lack of engagement on his
campus, Jonathan remained committed to
Israel and Zionism throughout his undergraduate
studies and paid close attention to
what was happening in the news each day.
After participating on a Birthright trip in the
winter of 2004-2005, Jonathan went on to
spend the summer of 2005 in Israel, where
he volunteered on an army base during the
final stages of the Second Intifada. He later
returned to Israel to participate in a MASA
program in Haifa, where he worked with
Israeli youth from the Ethiopian community.
As a result of his experiences, Jonathan gained
a grasp of the unique social dynamics in Israel
and unfortunately, he also saw the effects of
terror attacks closer than ever. He felt a part
of a nation and understood what life was like
for average Israelis at the time.
And just like his peers in Israel, who were
risking their lives on the front lines of the
IDF, Jonathan felt a duty himself to contribute
directly to the protection of the State
of Israel and Jewish people all over the world.
“Tying all of my experiences together with my
belief of how important Israel is for us, the
Jewish people, as the only safe haven in the
world and the only Jewish state, it felt like a
natural step for me to serve in the IDF,” he
said.
In 2007, Jonathan fulfilled his dream and
made Aliyah, becoming an Israeli citizen and
later drafting into the Israel Defense Forces as
a lone soldier the following year. He finished
basic training at a very tense time, serving
within a CBRN defense unit, part of the IDF’s
Home Front Command, just as Operation
Cast Lead had started. Jonathan described
this as an incredibly eye opening experience,
as he truly “saw the real and present threats
from a direct vantage point;” not only did he
Managing Director of
ZOA Campus Jonathan
Ginsburg pictured above
(R) while serving in the
IDF